Dačić with UNESCO Director-General on preservation of Serbian cultural heritage

20. Apr 2023.
Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dačić, met earlier today with UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, and discussed with her the topics on the preservation of Serbian cultural heritage and deepening cooperation.

After the meeting with UNESCO Director-General, he asked the organisation to devote special attention to the cultural heritage in Kosovo & Metohija.

"Preparations are also underway for the UNESCO assembly in November. For us, it is important that, considering our positions on Kosovo & Metohija, there is no Kosovo application for UNESCO membership for now, but that does not mean it won’t come to that. For us, it is good that UNESCO is a global organisation, rather than a European one, since most European countries recognise Kosovo. I believe there is almost no chance of Kosovo's admission to membership," Dačić said.

He noted that Serbia attaches great significance to its UNESCO membership and that it is important for the preservation of cultural heritage, especially in Kosovo & Metohija.

He said that these cultural heritage sites are found on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Minister Dačić stated that Serbia has an active role in UNESCO because its ambassador to the organisation, Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili, also chairs the UNESCO Executive Board and cooperates closely with Director-General Azoulay.

Dačić conveyed to Azoulay an invitation from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to visit Serbia again; also, one of the topics discussed at the meeting included the geopolitical situation as well as the circumstances in which UNESCO is currently operating.

Source/Photo: Tanjug/UNESCO